Civil War Soldier

A Gardiner Civil War Story

by AJ Schenkman, Gardiner Town Historian

“Gone to his long home,” is how a local New Paltz newspaper, on August 28, 1863, described the death of Gardiner resident Michael Malady. He had been a private in the 156th New York State Infantry for about a year when he died far from home.

An immigrant from Ireland, he was born sometime around 1822. Once in the United States, he eventually made his way to what is today Gardiner. Malady lived in the close-knit settlement called Libertyville with his wife Bridget. According to the 1860 Federal Census, Michael was a laborer struggling to make ends meet, supporting a growing family.

Yet Malady joined the 156th Infantry Company A, on August 19, 1862. Lt. P.A. Lefever was the enlistment officer. Like many immigrants of that era, he probably joined for the $25.00 sign-on bonus which lured many soldiers to volunteer. Furthermore, a steady paycheck of $13.00 a month could be sent home to his family.

It also appears, by a notation in his military records, that he was, what was called at that time, a “substitute,” a person legally hired by another to serve in the army in his stead. Such payment could be as high as $300.00, and this practice was a legal option at the time. No doubt the money that Private Malady earned for enlisting was probably more than he had ever seen at one time.

After joining the 156th, he was mustered in on November 17, 1862. His enlistment record describes the 41 year-old Malady as having “blue eyes, brown hair and a sandy complexion.” He stood at 5’7” and was listed as Class 3. This designation meant that he was a volunteer. According to the regimental history, Colonel Erastus Cooke recruited soldiers for the 156th regiment in Kingston. Soldiers like Malady signed on for three years. The 156th was composed of different companies, but Malady’s Company A, “was recruited mainly from Plattekill, New Paltz, Gardiner and Shawangunk.”

So, Private Malady was with his neighbors and friends, which may have provided some comfort for him.

The regiment set sail for New Orleans on December 4, 1862. The 156th became part of General William T.

The only Monument dedicated to the 156th NY State Volunteers Infantry Regiment, erected on September 19,1908, is located at the intersection of 9W and Milton Avenue in Highland.

Sherman’s Division, Department of the Gulf. Private Malady’s company saw their first battle during the battle of

Soldier, continued page 9